Primary
Reception - Form 5
a Cambridge Primary Years Programme
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LIS prides itself on delivering an excellent education in English based on the Cambridge Curriculum.
Our teachers prepare our students to speak and write fluently in order to communicate their ideas and emotions to others. By putting a strong emphasis on reading and listening, we aim to ensure that they acquire an extensive vocabulary, an understanding of grammar, and a knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and the spoken language.
At LIS we offer a Second Language English Programme for children that are not native English speakers or who have not previously been taught in an English-medium school.
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LIS aims to create opportunities for its students, and therefore, despite it not being part of the Cambridge Primary Programme, the curriculum for these years will also include First Language Portuguese.
In this subject, LIS will follow the Portuguese National Curriculum and will place a firm emphasis on the development of oral expression, vocabulary, reading skills, writing skills including spelling, grammar, and language structure.
At LIS we offer a Second Language Portuguese Programme for children that are not native Portuguese speakers or who have not previously been taught in a Portuguese-medium school.
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The Cambridge Primary Mathematics Programme is complemented by the philosophy that students need to acquire a solid understanding of concepts through opportunities to develop problem-solving skills. Students learn the "why" and "how" behind mathematical concepts through exploration, instruction, hands-on activities, and problem-solving. During Maths lessons, children have ample opportunities to practice, reinforce and enrich their skills. Whenever possible, mathematical skills are reinforced and applied in other areas, particularly in Science, Music, and Digital Literacy.
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In the Cambridge Primary Science Programme, students will have the opportunity to explore Life Sciences, Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences. Science classes promote content-specific information and basic knowledge through investigations and hands-on activities.
The Global Perspectives Programme develops research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration, and communication skills. This program strengthens the links between English as a First or a Second language, Geography, History, and Science. The program is organized into six units (Challenges) and addresses various topics such as ecology, emigration, and the world of work. This program gives students the opportunity to study Geography and History, developing varied skills such as map-reading and evaluating evidence. For the purposes of the curriculum, the subjects of Global Perspectives and Science are taught together and under the name Global Perspectives and Science.
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Visual & Performing Arts
Digital Literacy and Code
Social-Emotional Learning
Physical Education
WHO I AM
Curious
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Courageous
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Resilient
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Connected
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Learner
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Curious • Courageous • Resilient • Connected • Learner •
Lower
secondary
Form 6 - 8
a Cambridge Lower Secondary Years Programme
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Our Cambridge Lower Secondary English encourages a life-long enthusiasm for reading, writing and spoken communication.
LIS students learn how to communicate effectively and respond to a range of information, media, and texts to become confident communicators, able to apply all four skills effectively in everyday situations; see themselves as readers, engaging with a range of texts for information and for pleasure, including texts from different times and cultures; see themselves as writers, using the written word clearly and creatively for a range of different audiences and purposes.
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LIS aims to create opportunities for its students, and therefore, despite it not being part of the Cambridge Primary Programme, the curriculum for these years will also include First Language Portuguese.
In this subject, LIS will follow the Portuguese National Curriculum and will place a firm emphasis on the development of oral expression, vocabulary, reading skills, writing skills including spelling, grammar, and language structure.
At LIS we offer a Second Language Portuguese Programme for children that are not native Portuguese speakers or who have not previously been taught in a Portuguese-medium school.
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During our Mathematics Programme, LIS students develop a holistic understanding of the subject, focussing on principles, patterns, systems, functions and relationships. They will become mathematically competent and fluent in computation, which they can apply to everyday situations.
‘Thinking and working mathematically’, a unique feature of the Cambridge Mathematics Curriculum, encourages students to talk with others, challenge ideas, and to provide evidence that validates conjectures and solutions. When students are thinking and working mathematically, they actively seek to make sense of ideas and build connections between different facts, procedures, and concepts. This supports higher-order thinking that helps them to view the world in a mathematical way. Students will develop skills in: Numbers, Algebra, Geometry and Measure, Statistics, and Probability.
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Students will think scientifically and develop practical skills alongside knowledge and understanding, which is vital for explaining the world around us. Improving students’ awareness of Science in the world around them develops their sense that ‘Science is for me’, helping to connect themselves to the subject.
This approach provides them with the knowledge and skills they require to excel at Science in later stages of education and to make informed choices, including considering sustainability issues and meeting the challenges facing our environment.
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The programme develops the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication. It strengthens the links across English as a first or second language, Mathematics, Science and ICT.
Research says that the earlier students start to develop and practise their skills, the greater the impact on their learning. Making Cambridge Global Perspectives available to younger students will develop and embed cross-curricular skills at an earlier age, supporting them in their studies as they progress to Cambridge Upper Secondary and beyond.
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French
Spanish
Social-Emotional Learning
Digital Literacy and Code
Visual and Performing Arts
Physical Education
The Upper School is divided into two main stages, both following the International Secondary Programme from Cambridge University:
IGCSE + AS & A Levels
IGCSE
Form 9 - 10
by Cambridge Assessment International Education
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Art & Design
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science *
Drama *
Economics
First Language English
English as a Second Language
French
Geography
Global Perspectives
History
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Mathematics
First Language Portuguese
Portuguese as a Second Language
Physics
Spanish
Physical Education (no IGCSE exam)
*Available if more than 7 students
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Form 9:
Biology
Economics
English
Global Perspectives
Mathematics
Physical Education (no IGCSE exam)
Portuguese
Foreign Language: French, Spanish, Portuguese Second Language, English Second Language
Form 10:
Form 10 is a continuation of the IGCSE subjects started in Form 9. The exception is that 1 optional subject is dropped.
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Form 9 and 10:
Chemistry
Geography
Art & Design
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Physics
History
Drama *
Computer Science *
*Available if more than 7 students
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As a Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Center, LIS offers the possibility to write examinations in all subjects in two distinct sessions: October/November and May/June.
For more information regarding dates and times of examinations please check the CIE website.
AS &
A-levels
Form 11 - 12
by Cambridge Assessment International Education
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At LIS we offer the AICE diploma, a group award diploma of Cambridge University.
To meet the requirements of the Diploma, students must enroll in at least seven credits, with the subject of Global Perspectives & Research (AS-Level) being compulsory. The remaining six credits are chosen from the following subject groups:
Group 1: Mathematics and Sciences;
Group 2: Languages;
Group 3: Arts and Humanities;
Group 4: Interdisciplinary Subjects (optional)
At least one credit must be chosen from each subject group (1-3).
Note: An AS subject represents one credit, while an A-level subject represents two credits.
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Group 0: Cambridge Global Perspectives (compulsory)
Global Perspetives & Research
Group 1: Mathematics and Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science*
Environmental Management
Mathematics
Physics
Information Technology
Group 2: Languages
English Language
Portuguese
Spanish Language
French Language
Group 3: Arts and Humanities
Art and Design
Economics
Business*
Geography
History
Literature in English*
Environmental Management
Group 4: Interdisciplinary Subjects
English General Paper
Thinking Skills
*Available if more than 7 students
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As a Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Center, LIS offers the possibility to write examinations in all subjects in two distinct sessions: October/November and May/June.
For more information regarding dates and times of examinations please check the CIE website.
And now….
Time for questions
FAQ
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Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14-16 year olds, leading to globally recognised and valued Cambridge IGCSE qualifications.
Cambridge IGCSE is a two-year programme, taught in Form 9 and Form 10, recognised by the Ministry of Education in Portugal and as a reliable record of attainment by universities and employers around the world.
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In Portugal, it is mandatory to achieve at least a Grade C in any 6 or more IGCSE subjects.
For application to university in the UK, a student must have achieved at least a Grade C in Mathematics and English IGCSE.
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Cambridge IGCSEs are graded from A* to G. Candidates who do not achieve sufficient marks for a G grade will be ungraded.
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The student may enroll in that subject conditionally in Form 11, but the exam must be repeated in the October/November external examinations session to meet the requirements for the AICE Programme. If the required grade is still not achieved, the student will be advised to drop this subject and choose another one.
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The student needs to obtain a grade from A* to C in a minimum of 6 subjects at the end of Form 10, in the IGCSE Programme.
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The Cambridge AICE Diploma is an international pre-university curriculum and examination system that emphasises the value of broad and balanced study.
Designed for post-16 study, the Cambridge AICE Diploma demands knowledge of a variety of subjects from three different groups:
Mathematics and Sciences
Languages
Arts and Humanities.
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To earn the Cambridge AICE Diploma, students must take a minimum of seven credits. One of these must be Cambridge International AS Level Global Perspectives & Research, while the remaining six are chosen from Subject Groups 1 (Mathematics and Science), Group 2 (Languages), and Group 3 (Arts and Humanities), and optionally from Group 4 to receive the Diploma.
Students must earn at least one credit from each of the Groups 1, 2, and 3. The remaining credits can come from any of the Groups.
Each subject is offered at AS or A levels. One AS subject represents one credit, while an A-level subject represents two credits.
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Having ensured that a Pass is achieved in each of the three subject areas and in Global Perspectives and Research, the point score is calculated based on the Global Perspectives result plus the best six results from the other credits:
A-Level:
A* = 140 points
A = 120 points
B = 100 points
C = 80 points
D = 60 points
E = 40 points
AS-Level:
A = 60 points
B = 50 points
C = 40 points
D = 30 points
E = 20 points
An A Level (being a double credit) can count for a maximum of 140 points, an AS for 60 points, with a sliding scale depending on the grade achieved.
The maximum point score is 420 and any score of less than 140 for the Cambridge AICE Diploma will be reported as a Cambridge AICE Diploma failure.
The Cambridge AICE Diploma point score, calculated by Cambridge International, is converted to the Portuguese Ensino Secundário grading system, by the Direção Geral de Educação, ex:
AICE 140 > 12º ano 10,0
(…)
AICE 320 > 12º ano 16,4
(…)
AICE 420 > 12º ano 20,0
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The AICE Diploma requires passes in at least seven credits. Each Cambridge International AS Level counts as one full credit. A Cambridge International A Level counts as a double credit qualification. For example, students could offer three International A Levels, or two International A Levels with two International AS Levels. There are many more valid combinations of examinations, but at least one International AS/A Level pass must come from each of the three curriculum areas.
Students who have access to Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives & Independent Research (Pre-U GPR) can also use entries for this subject to contribute to the award.
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Yes, the LIS Team guides students on subject choices, as well as regarding the National Exams requirements of specific university courses, both in Portugal and abroad.
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Cambridge International qualifications are accepted by universities all around the world but Admission policies and procedures can vary significantly depending on how each country adapts Cambridge qualifications to their own national system of secondary education.
In Portugal, students apply to university using the “Ensino Secundário” classification and the results of subject-specific exams, called “Provas de Ingesso”, depending on the degree programme they wish to study at University.
Three Cambridge International A Levels or the Cambridge AICE Diploma are considered equivalent to the Portuguese “12º ano de escolaridade do Ensino Secundário” (end of Secondary Education).
The Portuguese “Provas de Ingesso” are substituted by the homologous subject Cambridge International AS or A Level exam.
LIS will guide our graduating students through every step of their university application process and in obtaining all the relevant equivalencies.